How do I care for a disabled bunny?

[fannymanson]

Here are a few links to videos of Big Brown in his cart. Yes, I need to mow the lawn.

http://s117.photobucket.com/user/fannymanson/media/DSCI3486sober_zpspafz9sbv.mp4.html

http://s117.photobucket.com/user/fannymanson/media/DSCI3487drunk_zpswxbonflp.mp4.html

http://s117.photobucket.com/user/fannymanson/media/DSCI3518lawn_zpsnyzzz7mo.mp4.html

http://s117.photobucket.com/user/fannymanson/media/DSCI3522lawn2_zpseabeqmse.mp4.html

 

[Chrisdoc]

What fabulous buns. I love seeing how wonderfully they cope with care and lovevfrom their parents. He is a handsome fellow and that car is wonderful for him. I follow lotsvof disabled rabhits on facebook as there is a group, lotsbof tips, ideas and support. You all give these special buns a chance be normal and to enjoy thebl life they have. Two beautiful bunnies.

 

[lovelops]

I love the photos you posted! Keep it up!

Vanessa

 

[fannymanson]

Big time scare the other day. Big Brown had one wet poop on Monday night. He produced cecals on Tuesday morning and he ate them, but then he stopped eating and drinking. I gave him vegetable baby food on Tuesday but he refused it Wednesday morning so I took him to the best vet I could find on Wednesday morning. Link- http://vetmed.iastate.edu/vmc/small-animal

We were there 8.5 nerve wracking hours and they did numerous tests. His body temp was low, his blood was under oxygenated, he was about 10% dehydrated, they took several x-rays, he was shaved and given an ultrasound of his liver and right lung, they took a culture of the lung and we are still waiting on those results. Meanwhile, between tests, he was put in a humidified and oxygenated environment and he improved somewhat and began eating. His fecal pellets were small but well formed. Ultimately he was prescribed chloramphenicol.

I have to say I was scared out of my mind and had an emotional time dealing with it. I didn't eat all day. Cried off and on, got a headache from it actually. Also developed a backache from tension and had such sweaty hands. And I was shaking so bad I signed my name wrong. Plus my mind was elsewhere and I got lost on the way home. I have to think that giving end of life care to an animal you love is one of the hardest things ever.

We are home now. I am syringe feeding Big Brown with vegetable baby food mixed with Critical Care and water. He gets his meds every 12 hours and is snuggled in his bed. He has access to his food and water and will occasionally eat voluntarily, but he may be spoiled on his fancy pudding. I fear for him. I want him to be ok. If you are a praying person, please send one up for my little guy.

 

[stevesmum]

I watched your videos and I think you are just a wonderful, caring person. Your rabbit Big Brown is just lovely. I hope he pulls through.

 

[lovelops]

My Brooke just got finished up with 10 days of chloramphenicol after being on Baytril for 7 days, She had a runny nose and we did the C & S tests and she had Staph that was MRSA resistant. I have no idea where that popped up from she had just returned from getting groomed and the next day the sneezing started. What is going on with Big Brown I just went through with Marilyn, my holland lop rescue I just got July of this year. Stopped eating, no poop. We did Xrays, she had a blockage in the colon. For four days no poop and she did not want to eat and was in pain, trying to poop and going to her litter box with no results. We went back yesterday because I told the vet this was stupid. They suggested surgery but all the vets was saying where the obstruction was in the colon it was not a high rate of her surviving and to try more hydration and laxiatives to get her stomach working. After 4 days and 7 hours she finally pooped. I have never been so happy to see rabbit pooh before. Same thing with Marilyn had to give her critical car and sub q fluids. Today she is her normal self, but I was crying also yesterday about how no doctors wanted to do surgery and said if she didn't respond to fluids she might have to be put down.

Hang in there and don't give up. You are doing a great job. Keep us posted. With the chloramphenicol Brooke had to take it twice a day, 250 mg a day (she is a giant mix and weighs 13 pounds) how ofter does Big Brown have to take it?

You are in my prayers,
Vanessa

 

[fannymanson]

Big Brown's right lung is somewhat solid and meaty they said. It could be bacterial or fungal, so that is why they prescribed chloramphenicol. He is prescribed .5 ml every 12 hours. I dose at 10 am/pm. The lung culture will be back in a week or more.

I would like him to eat every 4 hours, but he is not interested quite that frequently. I can give him about 1/2 cup of his pudding per feeding before he refuses. He is 2 pounds underweight. Poor thing.

I have been considering euthanasia for both of my buns. They are both disabled and not likely to improve. I worry about their quality of life and about mine as well and how it hurts me so badly to see them not thriving the way they should..

 

[lovelops]

Please don't take this wrong, please... I would not do anything rash. Whether or not they are disabled, they still have a great quality of life with you. i dealt with a paralyzed mother during the end of her life. I would not give up any of the time we had together and feel the same about bunnies. My mother fluxated due to being paralyzed, but I never gave up. I think you should either consider giving them to a house rabbit society that might want to take them if you keep thinking of putting them down. Look at Coco puff that was on this site also. She has a great life being paralyzed... please don't be discourged. See if the vets can help with feeding. I had to do the same thing with Marilyn. Does Big Brown have a staph infection? That is why Brooke was on the meds...

Please hang in there..

I've been on an emotional rollercoaster this week with Marilyn so I know how you feel...

Vanessa

 

[ellee4213]

disabledrabbits.com

 

[lovelops]

Big Brown's right lung is somewhat solid and meaty they said. It could be bacterial or fungal, so that is why they prescribed chloramphenicol. He is prescribed .5 ml every 12 hours. I dose at 10 am/pm. The lung culture will be back in a week or more.

I would like him to eat every 4 hours, but he is not interested quite that frequently. I can give him about 1/2 cup of his pudding per feeding before he refuses. He is 2 pounds underweight. Poor thing.

I have been considering euthanasia for both of my buns. They are both disabled and not likely to improve. I worry about their quality of life and about mine as well and how it hurts me so badly to see them not thriving the way they should..

What's going on? How are things? How is Big Brown???? I've been worried I've heard nothing. Please post and let us know what is going on.

Vanessa

 

[lovelops]

What fabulous buns. I love seeing how wonderfully they cope with care and lovevfrom their parents. He is a handsome fellow and that car is wonderful for him. I follow lotsvof disabled rabhits on facebook as there is a group, lotsbof tips, ideas and support. You all give these special buns a chance be normal and to enjoy thebl life they have. Two beautiful bunnies.

I agree I've just watched the video again and it's wonderful..

Vanessa

 

[fannymanson]

I have been struggling to take care of them. They are very needy and it is getting so time consuming. I hand feed Big Brown several times a day, but he is acting depressed and very weak. He eats and drinks and poos ok, but that's all his life consists of anymore. he is basically stationary in one or two different places/positions.

Big Brown's lung cultures came back and he had a bacterial infection. They identified 4 different microorganisms and said that the chloramphenicol was effective against them.

Bobby is falling over constantly and getting stuck on his back or side. He needs a bath every day because he pees frequently and is starting to get a little urine scald on one leg. I removed his water bowl because he kept falling in it and gave him a water bottle, but now I'm worried he will fall on the spout and injure his eye.

In short, I think I need to get to a place where I can let them go.. It has been an upsetting couple of weeks. I want to give them quality time, but Big Brown isn't quite bouncing back to his old self. Bobby is kind of ok, but just so helpless. I need to get a job and go back to work soon, but how can I when they need me? I have been quite delirious trying to figure out what to do about this situation.

 

[fannymanson]

Big Brown passed on his own overnight. He was awake at 4:30 am when I checked him, but now it is 8 am and he is gone. I loved that little guy. Babied so much. Sad day.

 

[vjp300]

I'm so sorry you lost your boy after all the effort and love you gave him. I think it was for the best though as you said you were beginning to struggle with it all and need to go back to work. At least now you know you did your very best for him and didn't give up on him when so many others would - myself included I hate to admit.

I hope that even after this heart wrenching experience you are able to give another bunny such a loving home again.

 

[stevesmum]

My condolences. It sounds like you did so much to make his life the best it could be.

 

[lovelops]

I had tears in my eyes when I read about Big Brown. At least he passed away in his sleep and as far as you know he was not in pain. I hope..
I understand how you feel, taking care of a paralyzed mother who had a feeding tube and was bed bound. I know how it's like to have someone
or an animal dependent on you.

I think you have been doing great with the care and love you gave Big Brown and you should feel good about that, knowing you did everything
you could for him and he died knowing he was loved and surrounded by people and virtual people here that cared about his well being.

I hope you can continue to help Bobby and if you can't find a House Rabbit Rescue that might be able to get him a home with someone
that has experience with disabled rabbits.

As some one with a disability and my mother being disabled I know the quality of life people feel animals and people should have vary.
I know doctors told me to let my mother die when she had pneumonia because after all she could not walk and who wants to live
if they can't walk. I wanted to punch him in the face. No one can assume they know the quality of life, or how people feel who are
disabled, no less animals. I think you are wonderful for the time you put into these two. Many others would not and for that you should
get a metal.

Off sides, Brooke now has glaucoma. During her infection her right eye started going blue and cloudy and was starting to get bigger than
the other. I got her to a eye specialist yesterday for animals and she is in the beginning of glaucoma. We have her on drops and
I will probably have to sell some things to get her surgery, but that is ok. I want her to be able to see and not go blind in the future.

Hang in there and you are in my thoughts and prayers always.

Vanessa

 

[lovelops]

Please try to remember the good times and good days with both Bobby and Big Brown. That's what I did after my mother died. It helped alot.

Please remember, you are the reason they have lived so long....

Vanessa

 

[fannymanson]

Here are a few of my favorite photos of Big Brown. I hope he knew that he was loved.

 

[pani]

Big Brown was such a beautiful bun. I'm sure he knew how much you loved him, given your devotion to caring for him as he became unwell. Binky free, Big Brown.

 

[lovelops]

Of course he knew he was loved and I LOVE all the pictures. Great memories to have and to remember him by!

Once again you are really great to have done all this for him and he appreciated it. Don't you forget that...

Hang in there especially during this holiday time. My mother became paralyzed Christmas Day so I know how it is
to have a death or serious injury during the holidays. It sucks..

All the best
Vanessa